SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COOLING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
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Abstract
A system for cooling an electronic device having a heat-generating component includes a passive cooling device having a cooling ability designed to expire after a predetermined amount of heat is absorbed from the heat-generating component and an active cooling device configured to at least one of dissipate heat generated by the heat-generating component and cool the passive cooling device, when the active cooling device is activated. The system also includes a controller configured to activate the active cooling device after a determination that a predetermined threshold condition has occurred, wherein the predetermined threshold condition is selected to occur after the passive cooling device cooling ability has substantially expired, to thereby substantially minimize power consumption of the active cooling device in cooling the heat-generating component.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A method for cooling a heat-generating component in an electronic device with a cooling system having a passive cooling device and an active cooling device, said method comprising:
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cooling the heat-generating component with the passive cooling device until a cooling ability of the passive cooling device to cool the heat-generating component has substantially expired; determining that a predetermined threshold condition has occurred when the passive cooling device cooling ability has substantially expired; and activating the active cooling device in response to a determination that the predetermined threshold condition has occurred, to thereby substantially minimize power consumption of the active cooling device in cooling the heat-generating component. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 32, 33)
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25. A method for cooling a heat-generating component in an electronic device with a cooling system having a passive cooling device and an active cooling device, said passive cooling device comprising a phase change material that is in a solid state at a first range of temperatures and melts into a liquid state at a predetermined temperature, said phase change material having a cooling ability designed to substantially expire after a predetermined amount of heat is absorbed from the heat-generating component, and wherein the active cooling device requires electrical energy to provide cooling, said method comprising:
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cooling the heat-generating component with the passive cooling device until the cooling ability of the passive cooling device to cool the heat-generating component has substantially expired; determining that a predetermined threshold condition has occurred when the passive cooling device cooling ability has substantially expired; and activating the active cooling device in response to a determination that the predetermined threshold condition has occurred, to thereby substantially minimize power consumption of the active cooling device in cooling the heat-generating component. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification